My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Preview: Phillies v. Padres – 7:05 pm Eastern.

The Phillies (4-4, 3rd) are now home for a seven-games home stand, starting with a four-games weekend series with the San Diego Padres (7-3, T-1st National League West). The first game of the four-game series will be played tonight at Citizens Bank Park and will start after 7:05 pm Eastern. The Phillies’ starter will be their ace Cole Hamels (0-1, 17.18), who is coming off a rocky start against the Colorado Rockies on April 10. In that game, he gave up seven runs on eleven hits and a walk, while striking out only one batter, in three and two-thirds innings of work, in the Phils’ 10-3 lost. He will be trying to recover from that poor start. The Padres will counter with Chris Young (2-0, 1.38), who is coming off a win against the San Francisco Giants on April 12, where he pitched seven strong innings, giving up no runs on four hits, while striking out seven, in the Padres’ 6-1 win. He will be looking to increase his record to 3-0 at the Phillies’ expense. The Phillies will be looking for their first winning series at home.

Before tonight’s ballgame, the Phillies will be doing several tributes in honor of the late Harry Kalas, who died before last Monday’s afternoon game in Washington, D.C. During the home stand, the flag in Ashburn Alley will be hung at half-mast in his honor, while his signature will be displayed on the field. Also, there will be a black drape placed in front of both the Phillies’ TV and radio broadcast booths. The Phillies will rename the TV broadcast booth in his honor, calling it the Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth: “That’s ball’s outta here!”, as a companion to the radio broadcast booth which is named the Richie ‘Whitey” Ashburn Broadcast Booth: “This game’s easy, Harry.” in honor of Hall of Fame outfielder, fellow broadcaster, and Kalas’ friend, Richie Ashburn. Comcast Network Philadelphia has announced that there will be no commentary made during the first half inning of tonight’s game. On the outfield wall, there will be a billboard honoring Kalas. Throughout the rest of the season, a recording of Kalas’ famous catch phrase: “Outta here !” will be played on the PA system everytime a Phillie batter hits a home run. During tonight’s seventh-inning stretch, on PhanaVision, a video with him singing ‘High Hopes’ will be shown, and fans will be encouraged to sing along.

Before the game, which fans are encouraged to attend early, his three sons, Todd, Brad and Kane will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. There will be held a moment of silence in Kalas’ honor, before his son, Kane, sings the national anthem. A video on his career will also be shown on PhanaVision. Lastly, all fans in attendence will be giving an 8 X 10 color picture of Harry Kalas, a commemorative program, and a poem that he wrote in 2002 as a tribute to the fans.

Huh? Well, I’d found out why you couldn’t comment in the other post. I’d accidently removed the ability to comment on that particular post. I’d just corrected it. As for the Orioles, guess my team won’t be the only one letting a game like that get away during the season. Thanks for the luck, I’m hoping the team will do better during the rest of the series.

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